Aylostera deminuta
Aylostera deminuta, synonym Rebutia deminuta, is a species of flowering plant in the family Cactaceae, native to Bolivia and northwest Argentina. The exact delimitation of the species varies, but sources agree that it is a short cactus with ribbed stems and orange to red flowers.
Description
Like other members of the clade to which it belongs, Aylostera deminuta usually has fibrous rather than tuberous roots. Its flower parts are fused together, at least at the base. The scales on the pericarpels and receptacles are of the same colour as the receptacles, rather than being darker or having dark tips. The species has been described separately under a number of synonyms, including Rebutia deminuta, Rebutia pseudodeminuta and Rebutia simoniana. As R. deminuta, it is described as forming clumps, with individual ribbed stems about 2.5 cm across, and having deep orange-red flowers about 3 cm long and wide. Other forms are described as solitary, with larger stems and somewhat larger flowers, which are orange or carmine red.Taxonomy
Aylostera deminuta was first described by Frédéric Weber in 1904 as Echinopsis deminuta. In 1923, Britton and Rose transferred it to the genus Rebutia as Rebutia deminuta, and in 1936, Curt Backeberg transferred it to Aylostera. Aylostera was generally sunk into Rebutia until phylogenetic studies from 2011 onwards led to Rebutia being split up, and the placement of the species in Aylostera was restored. A 2016 molecular phylogenetic study of the genus proposed a very broad circumscription of the species, reducing many species that are accepted by Plants of the World Online as of 2024 to synonyms of Aylostera deminuta, including:- Aylostera albiflora Backeb.
- Aylostera fiebrigii Backeb.
- Aylostera flavistyla Mosti & Papini
- Aylostera fusca Mosti & Papini
- Aylostera heliosa Mosti & Papini
- Aylostera hoffmannii Mosti & Papini
- Aylostera kupperiana Backeb.
- Aylostera mandingaensis R.Wahl & Jucker
- Aylostera muscula Backeb.
- Aylostera narvaecensis Cárdenas
- Aylostera perplexa Mosti & Papini
- Aylostera pseudominuscula Speg.
- Aylostera pulvinosa Mosti & Papini
- Aylostera spinosissima Backeb.